GRIZZLIES NEWCOMER BIG ADDITION TO BLUE-LINE

Brad Pawlowski casts a long shadow, and beware anyone who finds themselves on the dark side.

The big 20-year-old is the prize in a major deal the Victoria Grizzlies made with the Trenton, Ont., Golden Hawks. Pawlowski was brought to Victoria as a protector and enforcer.

Much like 2005, when he was drafted No. 2 by the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League draft to watch the back of their No. 1 pick, John Tavares, Pawlowski will be seeing to the safekeeping of the Grizzlies front lines.

His patrol starts tonight when Victoria opens the B.C. Hockey League regular season, facing off at 7:30 p.m., at Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo. The Grizz travel to Powell River tomorrow.

“No one’s going to be touching our younger players,” the six-foot-three, 210pound defenceman said. “It’s good for the younger guys that have the speed and skill to not have to worry about anything.”

A native of Marathon, Ont., Pawlowski had never been west of Edmonton, and was thrilled to get a call at 1 a.m. Friday saying he had been traded to Victoria. He arrived last Sunday, after missing his first flight, when his buddy’s car broke down on the way to the airport.

“It wasn’t a good start,” he said.

To get the D-man, the Grizzlies offered goaltender Alex Peck, forwards Mike Hammond and Craig Eisenhut, and defenceman Ryan Bradley, plus two players to be named later.

According to the Golden Hawks’ website, none of the four players have reported to Trenton, and Hammond has since been released by Victoria to play for the Junior B Victoria Cougars. Given the turn of events, Grizzlies coach and GM Victor Gervais said he was unable to comment on the state of the deal, but Pawlowski is already feeling at home.

“The team is great and the coaches are great. They just want me to play my game, and more or less intimidate the other team,” said Pawlowski, who saw limited ice time in two seasons with Oshawa, and decided to return to Junior A hockey. He’s excited about what he’s seen so far in practice at Bear Mountain.

“The hockey here is so much faster. I know it’s going to be really good.”

Unlike some players, who are pushed into the tough-guy role because of their size, Pawlowski carries a reputation as the type of player to stick up for his teammates. He said he’s always ready to get in the trenches, and won’t hesitate to drop the gloves.

“If anyone gets hit from behind, or the goalie gets hit, I’ll be the first one in there,” he said, anxious to get his first taste of action.